reef tank in it's infancy
- Thread starter grallster
- Start date
serpentine5
Member
Indeed it does! LOL
fishkiller
Active Member
grallster- wow! Awsome tank! What lighting do you have on that setup? That looks like halides from the pic. Just make sure you throw some actinics in there or it will look really yellow- personally, not my favorite shade for a reef tank. I like keeping a good blue glow to mine w/ one 65w pc actinic and one NO 20w actinic. The NO's seem to be more effective for some reason... (If anybody can tell me, I'd like to know if I'm right, or does it just SEEM to work better?)You are on your way with the equipment. You are doing it right, which is more than I could say for a lot of people. You are spending all your flow on the important equipment before you try to fill it with fish and corals. Many people don't find the equipment or lighting important until their fish are lying on the sandbed, and the corals bleach and die. Then thay are like "what the hell's wrong with my tank?". You stay on this track, and you'll be rewarded. Just remember...Patience! Good Luck!
grallster
Member
Thanks all,
The tank is a 75 gal. with 2X250 watt MH 6500K and 2X110 watt actinics.
I've had a FOWLR for about 9 yrs. now and have wanted to start a reef for the last couple yrs. now but wanted to make sure my ducks were all in a row first!
I've tried to plan everything out as best I could...but I'm sure I'll run into a snag or two.
One snag I've already run into is that I'm planning on putting a plenum in this tank but the problem is the AGA with the twin flow overflow. The bottom slots are 3" from the bottom and I am planning on having 5" of bottom material! Not sure how I'm gonna work that out, but I'm sure I'll find a way. I was thinking of installing a plexiglass shield about 1/2" in front of the overflow running from the bottom of the tank to the top of the sand bed. Do you think this will work?
Thanks,
Dave
The tank is a 75 gal. with 2X250 watt MH 6500K and 2X110 watt actinics.
I've had a FOWLR for about 9 yrs. now and have wanted to start a reef for the last couple yrs. now but wanted to make sure my ducks were all in a row first!
I've tried to plan everything out as best I could...but I'm sure I'll run into a snag or two.
One snag I've already run into is that I'm planning on putting a plenum in this tank but the problem is the AGA with the twin flow overflow. The bottom slots are 3" from the bottom and I am planning on having 5" of bottom material! Not sure how I'm gonna work that out, but I'm sure I'll find a way. I was thinking of installing a plexiglass shield about 1/2" in front of the overflow running from the bottom of the tank to the top of the sand bed. Do you think this will work?
Thanks,
Dave
E
elan
Guest
hmm... why a plenum??? from what i have read, many have abandond the plenum method.
grallster
Member
Well I've thought long and hard on the situation and have done alot of research. I've read two books on the subject: one by Ron Shimek, and one by Bob Goemans. These two books absolutely could not be any more contradictiary! I sorta wished that I had only read one of the books so that I wouldn't be so confused! Goemans supports the plenum system and Shimek the DSB. What I have learned is that denitrification takes place in an area of LOWERED oxygen content, not the ANEROBIC conditions in which I had previously thought. It seems that Goeman's systems relied on the plenum space and diffusion to create the lowered oxygen conditions and that Shimek relied more on animals to burrow and create the anoxic conditions. I think both will probably work well but I think I would feel more secure to not have to worry about population crashes or such.
But anyways, the deciding factor that caused me to go plenum were the bullet proof reef set-ups on garf's website. They use plenums. If I can get my tank to look anything like theirs--I don't care what my nitrate levels are!
Any more thought's on the issue?
Thanks,
Dave
But anyways, the deciding factor that caused me to go plenum were the bullet proof reef set-ups on garf's website. They use plenums. If I can get my tank to look anything like theirs--I don't care what my nitrate levels are!
Any more thought's on the issue?
Thanks,
Dave
lobstergrabber
Member
Interesting thread. I am(once I get my 55 going good) Looking to try and get a 20 long and go with 1 250 watt halide and follow the Garf bullet proof setup adding the halide last. So if you do go plenum keep us updated I would like to know how it works out.
Rich
Rich